Let’s face it: As much as we love a good party dress or sequin number, most of the clothes we have in our closets are reserved for the office. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make a statement at work. As we saw last year, fashion companies have become more conscious of the production of their clothes — and what better statement to make for 2019 than a commitment to ethical clothing?
Brands have incorporated ethics into their production with a focus on the environment, animals and laborers. Those focusing on the environment avoid chemicals in their clothes, recycle materials and use organic fiber. There are also cruelty-free brands that don’t use any animal products in their production and rely on alternative materials to avoid polluting waterways. Fair-trade companies make sure that workers, both domestically and in developing countries, receive fair wages.
These vegan, eco-friendly and/or fair-trade fashion companies are stylish, ethical and totally work appropriate.
[ Next: Racial Diversity Inches Forward, Body Diversity Hits a Record Low in the Fall 2018 Fashion Ads ]
Ethical Brands to Wear to Work
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ENDA
Catherine Coat in Brush Black, $598 at ENDA
Ran Enda, designer of ENDA, believes that "cruelty-free is the new luxury in our lifestyle and what we wear is a big part of our life." In line with the designer’s beliefs, her products only use faux fur and leather.
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ENDA
Blair Velvet Pajama Shirt in Saturn, $178 at ENDA
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Miomojo
The Ethicool Tote, $108.30 at Miomojo
This company is bent on making sure their products do not originate from animal exploitation and they promote sustainable yet affordable products. Ten percent of Miamojo’s net profit supports projects that help animals in need.
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Rujuta Sheth
Mini Crop Jacket in Noir, $230 at Rujuta Sheth
Rujuta Sheth is committed to sustainability and longevity in all facets of design, production, and wearability. The brand uses organic and handwoven textiles.
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Rujuta Sheth
Venus Wrap Jumper in Earth, $257 at Rujuta Sheth
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Della
Christie Dress, $148 at Della
A socially responsible fashion line that works directly with a community in Ghana, Della creates sustainable products using materials sourced locally and provides an income and training for their employees. Weekly literacy classes, money management training and a volleyball league are just some of the benefits available to Della employees.
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Matt & Nat
Baxter in Cement, $108.75 at Matt & Nat
Matt & Nat uses materials like recycled nylons, old bicycle tires, cardboard, and cork to produce their eco-fashion items. All products are created using 100-percent recycled plastic bottles for their linings.
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Arkins
Wrap Tank in Wheat, $80 at Arkins
The products of Arkins are made with Certified Organic Cotton. The farmers that harvest the fibers thrive in a pesticide-free environment and the water runoff is free of toxins. When they are not using organic fiber, they work with upcycled materials to prevent them from heading to the landfill.
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Arkins
Princess Seam Dress in White, $121 at Arkins
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ABLE
Joselyne Mule in Charcoal Suede, $138 at ABLE
ABLE items are produced by women in Ethiopia, Mexico, Peru and Tennessee. The company provides fair-pay jobs to empower women and help alleviate generational poverty. They are also one of the rare companies that believe in wage transparency so much that they publish the what they pay their employees.
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ABLE
Miriam Block Heel in Cherry Suede, $124 at ABLE
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People Tree
Frankie Top in White, $77 at People Tree
People Tree lessens their environmental footprint by using low-impact dyes free from harmful azo chemicals — one of the ingredients commonly found in textiles that pollutes aquatic environments. They also avoid using plastic and toxic substances whenever possible. People Tree is dedicated to the principles of fair trade: fair wages, good working conditions, transparency, environmental best practice, and gender equality. Furthermore, they support 13 fair-trade producers around the world which includes farmers, producers and artisans.
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People Tree
Corin Checked Trousers, $149 at People Tree
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Indigenous
Pencil Skirt in Gray, $88 at Indigenous
All apparel and accessories of Indigenous are made from all-natural fibers, including organic cotton, organic alpaca, merino wool and silk. They use natural colors of organic cotton and fleece to eliminate the need for dyes when possible. Indigenous also utilizes a qualified system for waste water filtration. They are committed to fair-trade partnerships with culturally diverse artisans. All 750 of their artisans are paid above fair-trade wages and they train 50 economically marginalized women per year.
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Indigenous
Side Slit Tunic in Winterberry, $98 at Indigenous
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Fair Indigo
Fair Trade Organic Tie Dress in Dark Ocean, $39.99 at Fair Indigo
Fair Indigo uses organic fabric whenever possible and compensates their skilled artisans and operators with fair wages.
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Fair Indigo
Fair Trade Organic Split Neck Dress in Boysenberry, $56.99 at Fair Indigo
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Cuyana
Silk Bow Blouse in Blush, $185 at Cuyana
The focus of Cuyana is the opposite of fast fashion: They have a "fewer, better" that encourages less manufacturing and better and more substantial fabrics. With every purchase, a linen bag is provided to customers for donations of unwanted clothing with free shipping to the H.E.A.R.T. organization, which helps victims of abuse.
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Cuyana
Wide Sleeve Silk Blouse in Black, $175 at Cuyana
